AG's office raises questions about Frisco high school prayer room

Liberty High School in Frisco has a room where students of any religion can pray and meditate, but the Texas Attorney General's office made a big deal about the room Friday, asking the superintendent to ensure the room is not limited to students who practice Islam.

Liberty High School in Frisco has a room where students of any...

AUSTIN --Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, which attacked a school district for pulling down a religious Christmas decoration last year, took aim at a Dallas-area high school on Friday for operating a prayer room -- for Muslims.

At issue is not Frisco's Liberty High School availing a space for students to pray, the attorney general's office wrote in a letter to the Frisco Independent School District superintendent.

The real issue, according to the letter, is whether students who practice a religion other than Islam are allowed to use it.

"It is a meditation room, prayer room," said Chris Moore, a spokesman for the Frisco ISD. "Anyone can go there. Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Islam, Muslim, any of those religions can utilize that room."

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School officials said it is a regular classroom that can be used for other activities at certain times during the day.

The Republican attorney general's office sent the letter and a press release about the prayer room Friday, suggesting the school may be violating the First Amendment's protection of religious liberty.

The letter, sent by Deputy Attorney General Andrew Leonie, instructs the superintendent to ensure the prayer room is open to all students. Paxton aides said an inquiry into the prayer room left them with more questions than answers, and that prompted the letter.

Moore said the district is trying to make contact with the attorney general's office to clarify the room is open to all.